![]() ![]() Essentially every part of the bark is being utilized so there's very little waste. The material that's left over is ground up to make other products like cork floors, shoes and insulation. Once the bark is stripped from the trees, it's washed, dried and then bottle stoppers are punched out. This makes it easier to strip the bark without harming the trunk The cork is removed in large bulging planks, which are very light and still damp from the tree's sap A close-up look at the stripped cork bark Stacks and stacks of cork planks, recently extracted from the cork oak trees.Īnd did you know that cork flooring is a recycled by-product of cork bottle stoppers? The raw material factory's first priority is wine and champagne stoppers. Throughout its long lifetime - cork oak trees can be expected to live upwards of 200 to 250 years - the tree is continually regenerating bark, which makes the Montados industry an ideal example of renewable production.įrom left to right: A cork oak forest in Portugal (The Portuguese Montado) Craftsmen skillfully stripping the bark of the cork oak tree with an axe which only happens once every nine years between May and August when the tree is at its most active phase of growth. Trees are harvested by experienced, qualified craftsmen who manually strip the outer layer of bark with a small hatchet. A tree must be at least 20 - 25 years old before the first cut is made to its bark and from then on, the cork can only be extracted once every 9 years. Cork bark harvesting is an environmentally friendly process that's done without cutting down or destroying a single tree. The largest collection of cork oak trees can be found in Western Europe, particularly in Portugal's cork oak forests - or 'Montados'. And while many of us have even installed it in our own homes, how do you know if it's a good fit for you? Read on for cork flooring pros and cons, what to look for when buying, and the best installation method for each room.īasics of Cork Flooring Where does it come from?Ĭork is a plant material derived from the bark of the cork oak tree ( Quercus Suber). It has so many advantages - all the unique qualities of cork make it an ideal choice for flooring. ![]() We're obviously big fans of cork flooring here. How to Find the Best Cork Floor for Every Room in Your House Your complete buyer's guide for cork flooring pros and cons, available styles, installation methods and maintenance tips. ![]()
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |